Sri Anandpur Sahib Thanks to the indifferent approach of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) towards the Sikh heritage sites and relics of different Sikh periods, a threat is looming over an old structure of historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib. 

Under the beautification and renovation project, heritage importance of the gurdwara’s old structure is being killed by a Kar Sewa organization. The plan of the SGPC has triggered a row and Sikh bodies and heritage lovers are raising concern over this.

This place has great importance for the Sikhs. Their ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadarembraced martyrdom in Delhi on November 11, 1675. His head was brought to Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jaita and his associates. The cremation of the head of Guru Sahib was held at this sacred place on November 17,1675. The central pedestal of the Sikh shrine is the oldest structure of the town which is also known as second capital of Khalsa. 

As per Sikhwiki, a memorial shrine in the form of a platform whithin a small room was got constructed over the ashes by Guru Gobind Singh himself. The original pavement in the front compound with old Nanakshahi bricks arranged in geometrical patterns is still intact. 

Despite this importance, the SGPC is taking this place lightly and has handed over the project to a UK based organization and Kar Sewa organization without ensuring monitoring and guidelines of the heritage experts and community leaders. 

 Walls of the old structure are going to be covered with stone. 

“This is not an isolated incident. Similar actions have been seen at other historic Sikh sites, such as Gurudwara Dang Mar Sahib in Assam, which is now a Buddhist monastery, and Chamkaur Sahib Fort, where historic traces have been completely vanished. These systematic changes are part of a larger attempt to erase Sikh heritage”, said a Sikh activist. 

“We have not started the work yet”, said an SGPC official, claiming that the gurdwara body is taking help of the heritage experts. 

Meanwhile, Kar Sewa head Baba Satnam Singh said, “Along with Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Birmingham (UK), we initiated the task keeping in view of the bad condition of the wall plaster”.

The Sikh bodies maintain that if any structure needs renovation, there are modern techniques in the world, with which the heritage buildings can be preserved with tempering with the original structure. 

This is not a new incident of erasing the Sikh heritage. Many precious Sikh heritage buildings, including those who were associated to Guru Sahib, have already been demolished under the Kar Sewa by the SGPC which has been reeling under the influence of the political leaders who work on dictate of Indian agencies.